Giving in Good Ground: First Fruits Giving (Ezekiel 20:40; 44:30; 1 Samuel 10:4; 2 Kings 4: 42-44; John 6:1-13; Acts 4:32-37)

Giving the tithe seems fairly straight forward, and there seems to be no other options than bringing the tithe to the priest, of the God you worship, whether it is the example of Abraham, giving to Melchizedek (Gen.14:17-20), 400 years before the law, or the numerous references instructing Israel to bring the tithes to the priests, under the old covenant, or the new covenant instruction to us to bring our tithe to our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is patterned after Melchizedek, and ever lives as our high priest receiving our tithes, a continuation of the ministry established in Abraham, for all Believers to give tithes. (Heb. 7:1-28)

Giving the first fruits, however, has some latitude. Even though it is grouped with giving tithes, in the famous Malachi passage (Mal.3:8ff), bringing them to the priests, into the storehouse, and God says, through His priests, Israel will give the first fruits into the temple, "...and there I will favorably receive them and there I will watch your first fruits, and the first fruits of your offerings in all your sanctified things." (Ez.20:40, LXX), and "...your first fruits shall be for the priests; and your first produce you shall give to the priest. TO PUT A BLESSING UPON YOUR HOUSES." (Ez.44:30, LXX), or as the KJV says, "...that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house." Yet, there are several examples contained in scripture, where the first fruits were given, but not to the priests.

THE KING

In the prophetic revelation of what was going to happen to Saul, after his anointing, Samuel told Saul that he would meet three men going up to Bethel, to bring offerings to God, and the one man would have 3 loaves of bread of the first fruits, "...and they shall give to you two first fruits of bread, and you shall take them from out of their hand." (1 Sam.10:4, LXX). Every indication is that these men were prophets themselves, and acknowledged Saul's anointing and kingship by giving him the first fruits. They were instructed to give the first fruits to him, and he was instructed, by God, through the prophet Samuel, to receive them.

THE PROPHET

"...there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and full ears of grain in its husk." (2 Kgs.4:42, KJV) The man of God instructed him to give this little bit of provision to 100 men, and God performed a miracle in multiplying the first fruits. (4:42-44)

JESUS in HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY

In John 6:1ff, there is recorded the familiar account of Jesus multiplying the 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes. What we know from this account, though not as obvious from the text, is that this is a parallel to the OT account of the multiplication of the first fruits, by the prophet, in 2 Kings 4:42ff. We also know, from the Greek text, that the word used for "baskets" is the word used to describe the first fruit baskets that were used to carry the first fruits to the temple, for the priests. (Deut.26:2) What is implied, is that at least 12 people, including the little boy, had empty baskets, that were used to gather up the first fruits left over. Seemingly 11 people ate their first fruits on their way to the Passover feast (Jn.6:4), but the little boy gave his to Jesus, and the first fruits given to Jesus were multiplied. There is no indication that there was any other first fruits or food in the crowd.

THE APOSTLES

There is also some indication in the Greek text, that at least a portion of the offerings laid down at the apostles feet (Acts 4:32-37) were first fruits.

Therefore, there is liberty to give the first fruits into established ministry that is producing good fruit. Good seed in good ground produces good results. Hopefully this study will give some clarity regarding the giving of first fruits into anointed and fruitful ministry.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.